Effect of wet gauze on relief of acute urinary retention in male patients after cardiac catheterization: a randomized controlled clinical trial

Acute urinary retention (AUR) can occur as a complication after surgery or cardiac catheterization. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of wet gauze on relief of AUR in male patients after cardiac catheterization. In this randomized controlled clinical trial, 36 male patients developing AUR after cardiac catheterization in Afshar Hospital, Yazd, Iran, were allocated to three groups; 13 patients in the group of immersed gauze in tepid water (40 centigrade), 12 patients in the dry gauze group, and 11 patients in the group without any intervention. The gauze was applied on symphysis pubis area. Elimination of AUR was compared between the three groups using chi-square analysis. One-way analysis of variance was used to find significant differences among the three groups regarding the time of relief from AUR. The frequency of the relief of AUR was 61.5%, 25 %, and 9.1% in the groups of wet gauze, dry gauze and without intervention, respectively. There was a significant difference in relief of AUR among all groups (P = 0.022). The difference in relief of AUR between wet gauze group and other two groups was significant, too (P = 0.007). There was no significant difference in the time of relief of AUR among the three groups. According to the results of the study, it can be recommended to apply a gauze immersed in tepid water on the suprapubic area in male patients after cardiac catheterization to relieve AUR.